Cyborg takes center stage as events fall into place for next months massive new story arc: OFF THE GRID! Also, Batman continues to be question the Superman/Wonder Woman alliance and Aquamans future with the League. Plus: The Shazam backup story reveals the origin of Black Adam and what it means for Billy Batsons survival!

This was an excellent jumping on point for new readers as we get to meet new characters and watch them interact with the core members of the League. This book leaves a door open for a new story arc coming up, although it hints that it may not get touched on until after Trinity War. Unless of course we just witnessed the start of it. It's that cryptic. Read Full Review

Even though it was not the biggest action story of the year " no Darkseid, no Parademons, no invasion of Atlantis " this was a solid issue. it set the groundwork for many future stories, which take place both in the pages of Justice League as well as elsewhere. This is still the flagship book of the DCU. Read Full Review

Anyway, I'm happy with the new recruits, and I'm interested to see what becomes of this new Atom, but the whole concept of this issue just utterly fails because of the New 52 in general. It doesn't work the way Johns wants it to, and that's a real shame. Read Full Review

This well done recruitment story shows a more funny side to the Justice League's antics. All the characters shine in this episode; especially the comedic ones like the Flash and Firestorm. Even the serious ones like Batman, Nightwing, Cyborg, Black Lightning, and Superman have interesting things to say. Not much happens in this issue but even so, it was a good read. The plot was well organized. It starts with Cyborg reaching through the Internet to contact various superheroes and then goes to a board meeting with the original Justice League and then to the recruitment meeting. A short action sequence takes place where most of the new characters get to do something; especially Firestorm and Atom. This issue shows that there may be a bright future for this bigger group. Lastly, the artwork is good. Not fantastic or great but good. Read Full Review

The Shazam backup story makes a welcome return this issue, as villain Black Adam continues his search for the old wizard's new custodian. Johns brings the characters to life very well and Gary Frank's art is truly something special. As this chapter sets up the first true confrontation between Shazam and his arch enemy, Black Adam, it looks like we are finally about to see just what kind of hero Billy Batson is. Nothing to complain about here. Read Full Review

There are no complaints to be had with the Shazam backup, which returns after taking last month off. Johns has entered the most dramatically rich portion of the story so far as Billy faces first first moment of crisis. His foster siblings come back into play, and I'm eager to see how much of Johns' Flashpoint incarnation of Shazam will end of informing this version. Combine an emotionally heavy script with some typically bold and detailed artwork from Gary Frank, and you have one of the best Shazam chapters yet. Read Full Review

There's no escaping the fact that Justice League #18 is a good old-fashioned prelude issue. There's so much being set up from beginning to end that it's hard to squeeze a story-proper out of an issue like this. Fortunately, Geoff Johns stands up to the task and makes the entire affair feel completely fluid and natural. My bias for the structure of character development aside, JL #18 hits all the right marks. At the end of the day, it's really hard not to like seeing so many familiar (and some unfamiliar) faces in one issue. Read Full Review

Justice League #18 is a nice little breather after the all-out-war of Throne of Atlantis but it's more fun for die-hard DC fans looking for familiar faces than it is casual readers looking for story. Some exciting stuff is thrown in at the end that could lead somewhere great but only time will tell. The Shazam backup is still a joy to read but if you haven't kept up with that since the beginning you won't know what's going on. Read Full Review

Geoff Johns loves the DC Universe, and DC's strength is that the world is basically overpopulated with superheroes and the resultant goofy shit. The DC Universe should always be the most superheroiest of the cape comics worlds, and this issue shows that by gathering a bunch of diverse superhero characters -- robots, devils, kung fu ladies, magicians, street heroes, people with fire for hair, ex-sidekicks -- around a meeting table in a satellite. Most importantly, Johns and Saiz introduce a new-new Atom, who is a lady with goggles, which I'm so all about that it ain't even funny. Read Full Review

"Justice League" #18 is an exciting and refreshing interlude between "Throne of Atlantis" and whatever multi-part adventure awaits the League next. Johns and Saiz contribute some much needed character development and interaction while allowing the League to evolve organically. Capped with a fine chapter of Shazam, this issue of "Justice League" provides a much-needed break and delivers stunning artwork worthy of an instant classic. I'm certainly going to add this to my pile of frequently read, much-enjoyed team adventures. Read Full Review

This book was a much needed bounce back from last month, and while it is really only the inklings of something fantastic, I believe that the next arc will really be something great. Here’s to hoping. Read Full Review

I'm still pretty ambivalent about the Shazam backups, as well as the overall "new" Shazam concept. Chapter Ten did little to change my ambivalence. Setting aside my issues with how the character is being handled, which, I'll admit, are not only subjective, but a result of me being a little bit of a Golden Age purist when it comes to Captain Marvel and friends, there's the matter of how this story reads in this format. Things don't flow very well when you're only getting them in irregular ten page installments. Ah, well, I guess I can judge that when it wraps up! Read Full Review

After the immensely fun and gorgeously drawn ‘Throne of Atlantis,' Justice League #18 is bit of a let down. However, Johns plants some interesting seeds for the upcoming “Trinity War,” and the introduction of a few fan favorite characters helps make up for some of this issue's flaws. ‘Off the Grid' isn't off to the best start, but hopefully future issues will rectify that. Read Full Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 is a pretty down the middle issue. The art is ok. The story is ok. Nothing really wowed me here. I like seeing these heroes act like normal human beings, and I liked seeing some of the DCU characters that aren't currently involved in other books. Two out of the three recruits for the Justice League are a swell idea. I don't mention the back-up because, as I've said before on the CV Podcast, I'm not a fan. Gary Frank's art is nice, but I don't care for how the story is being set up. On the confusing side of things, why is Aquaman hanging out with the Justice League? Isn't he leading Atlantis?This was a down the middle issue. Read Full Review

The Justice League part is fun. The art is gorgeous. The dialogue is entertaining. The Shazam part… well the art is gorgeous. The writing isn't bad at all, but it's just not fresh enough. Read Full Review

This wasn't the best issue in the series so far, but it was interesting, and it does have a very interesting conclusion. It didn't have much action, or excitement, but I never expected it to, but it was still interesting, and still better than a lot of series out there. I would still recommend this issue, as it was interesting, but I would advise newer readers to tread with caution, as it isn't the best issue to entice you into the series. Read Full Review

The back-up story continues Billy Batson acting like a spineless prick and his continued unwillingness to be a hero despite the power granted to him and Black Adam‘s rampage and gathering of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man to his side to unleash his evil on the wizard and his new champion. Hit-and-Miss. Read Full Review